Şenol Buran, a tea-maker working at the Cumhuriyet daily’s İstanbul headquarters, has been arrested by a Turkish court for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Cumhuriyet daily reported.
According to the daily, Buran was late to work on Dec. 24 after authorities closed roads and stopped public transport to deny access to the Şişli district, where President Erdoğan was to attend a meeting.
“When I finally arrived at the building [of Cumhuriyet], the security chief asked me why was late. I explained the situation and he told me that the police closed the roads because of the president. He also told me that I would serve him a glass of tea if he pays us a visit,” Buran said.
According to the daily, even though Buran said he would not serve him tea, he denied the allegations of insulting Erdoğan.
Buran was arrested by the İstanbul 11th Criminal Court of Peace on Saturday upon complaints by several police officers who were reported to have witnessed the conversation.
Ten top journalists from the Cumhuriyet daily have been in prison since late October. (Turkey Purge)